second

sec|ond¹ W1S1 [ˈsekənd] number

1.) the second person, thing, event etc is the one that comes after the first

▪ the Second World War

▪ the second of August

▪ a second year student

▪ his second wife

▪ Clinton's second term in office

▪ the second half of the year

▪ the second time in three days

2.) the position in a competition or scale that comes after the one that is the best, most successful etc

▪ She won second prize.

▪ They climbed to second place in the League.

second largest/most successful etc

▪ Africa's second highest mountain

be second only to sth

(=used to emphasize that something is nearly the largest, most important etc)

▪ The euro will have a circulation second only to that of the dollar.

3.) another example of the same thing, or another in addition to the one you have

▪ We advertised for a second guitarist.

▪ There was a second reason for his dismissal.

▪ I asked the doctor for a second opinion (=when you ask another person to repeat an examination, test etc for you) .

4.) every second year/person/thing etc

a) the second, then the fourth, then the sixth year etc

▪ The nurse comes every second day.

b) used to emphasize that in a group of similar things, there is too much of one particular thing

▪ Every second house seemed to be boarded up.

5.) be second to none

to be the best

▪ The quality of Britain's overseas aid programme is second to none.

6.) second chance

help given to someone who has failed, in the hope that they will succeed this time

▪ I just want to give these kids a second chance .

7.) have second thoughts

to start having doubts about a decision you have made

▪ You're not having second thoughts, are you?

have second thoughts about

▪ She'd had second thoughts about the whole project.

8.) on second thoughts

BrE on second thought AmE spoken used to say that you have changed your mind about something

▪ I'll call her tomorrow - no, on second thought, I'll try now.

9.) not give sth a second thought/without a second thought

used to say that someone does not think or worry about something

▪ She dismissed the rumour without a second thought.

10.) not give sth a second glance/look also without a second glance/look

to not look at something again, because you have not really noticed it or because it does not seem important

▪ No-one gave the woman in the grey uniform a second glance.

11.) be/become second nature (to sb)

something that is second nature to you is something you have done so often that you do it almost without thinking

▪ Driving becomes second nature after a while.

12.) second wind

a new feeling of energy after you have been working or exercising very hard, and had thought you were too tired to continue

▪ He got his second wind and ran on.

second ²

second² W2S1 n

[Sense: 1-3, 5; Date: 1300-1400; : Medieval Latin; Origin: secunda, from secunda pars minuta 'second small part, one sixtieth of a minute', from Latin secundus; SECOND²]

1.)

a unit for measuring time. There are 60 seconds in a minute

▪ Hold your breath for six seconds.

▪ The operation takes only 30 seconds.

▪ Ultrasonic waves travel at around 300 metres per second .

within seconds

(=after only a few seconds)

▪ Within seconds, Bev called back.

2.)

a very short period of time

▪ I'll be back in a second.

▪ Just a second (=wait a moment) , I'll come and help.

▪ At least 30 shots were fired in a matter of seconds (=in a very short time) .

→↑split second

3.) (at) any second (now)

used to say that something will or may happen extremely soon

▪ He should be here any second.

4.) seconds [plural]

a) informal another serving of food, after you have eaten your first serving

b) clothes or other goods that are cheaper than usual because they are not perfect

→↑second hand¹

5.) technical

one of the sixty parts into which a ↑minute of an angle is divided. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 78º 52' 11' means 78 degrees 52 minutes 11 seconds.

6.) [>C]

someone who helps someone in a fight, especially in ↑boxing or, in the past, a ↑duel

7.) [U] AmE informal ↑second base

second ³

second³ [ˈsekənd] adv

1.) [sentence adverb]

used before you add information to what you have already said

= ↑secondly

2.) next after the first one

come/finish etc second

▪ I came second in the UK Championships.

▪ Tea is the most popular drink, while coffee ranks (=comes) second.

second ⁴

second⁴ v [T]

to formally support a suggestion made by another person in a meeting

second a motion/proposal/amendment etc

second ⁵

se|cond⁵ [sıˈkɔnd US -ˈka:nd] v [T usually passive] BrE

to send someone to do someone else's job for a short time

be seconded to sth

▪ Jill's been seconded to the marketing department while Dave's away.

→↑secondment